So I am getting on with this, I hope you are still enjoying it.
Hope to get the next few chapters done soon.
Thanks for the responses, always appreciate seeing favs/follows and reviews.
"I'm going out for breakfast!" Neal shouted as he opened the front door to leave. If he was honest he didn't want to be staying in his father's house any longer than he had to. He had agreed to come to this town, and was staying with his father and Belle but things were still strained and awkward. Belle was lovely and had been nothing but welcoming, but his father had never understood him. And they had spent so much time apart, they were practically strangers really, sharing blood but nothing else.
"Bae, wait." He heard the tap of the cane and stopped in the doorway as his father hobbled into view.
"Be careful." The older man told him.
"I know how to take care of myself, I'm not a boy anymore." He tried to soften the remark, he didn't mean to dredge up the past, but he just needed his father to understand that he was used to making his own decisions and having his own space.
"People may hurt you to get to me." Rumple warned him, "And magic is weaker here, I don't have the reach I would like."
"I agreed to come here, to see proof you have changed." Neal told him, "I have left my life in New York and put my life on hold. I did that for you, for me and lastly for Henry. I want to demonstrate my desire for a relationship with him and see if there is a chance to rebuild things with you. But for this to work between us I need you to trust me."
He looked long and hard at his father, before continuing to speak, "I'll be fine, I'm only at the Diner and won't be gone too long. Maybe we can meet up later, have a drink? What's the bar like in town?"
"Over crowded and overpriced." His father told him. "Rowdy and raucous too."
"Sounds good to me." Neal grinned making the older man roll his eyes. He continued, "I just want to relax and talk, it has been over a hundred years and this is a different world. You don't know me anymore but we can work on that, on learning to trust each other."
Gold watched his son walk away down the path and wondered what it would take for him to stay in town, for him to believe his father had changed and did truly love him. He needed to communicate to him that from the minute he had let go of Bae's hand all those years ago he had been in turmoil. That event had refocused his life and on that fateful day he learned how much he valued family. He wouldn't stop until Baelfire knew he could be trusted once again.
Cora appeared outside the diner and watched the young man eat his breakfast. He was at a two person table near the door and hadn't been there long as there was still an almost full cup of coffee and over half a plate of food on the table.
She looked at the chequered floor, the neon sign, and the plastic table cloths. The smell of grease hung in the air and she wondered why this place always seemed so busy. It held no appeal to her, she liked the finer things and nothing about this place was fine. However it was frequented by Rumple's son, so she would stomach the place so she could attain her goal.
She entered the restaurant and slid into the seat opposite him. She looked at his features as he lifted his head and stared at her, she was looking for similarities to Rumple, but she didn't find what she was looking for. There was no hard edge in his eyes, the boy was unremarkable, there was no magic in him and Cora's smile grew. He wouldn't be able to taste the potion, he wouldn't recognise the effects until he was completely submerged, it really was too easy.
"Good Morning." She greeted. "Baelfire isn't it? I knew your father long ago." She told him.
"I go by Neal now." The man told her, he had stopped eating and was watching her wearily. She was used to less than warm welcomes so she just kept her poise and carried on speaking. She knew she only needed to distract him a little to add the potion to the man's coffee cup.
"I am so pleased you have been reunited, your father used to speak so warmly about you."
Neal just had a non-committing hum in response.
"I used to know Rumple quite well, I would be honoured to get to know you too." She held out her hand and he took it, studying her face as he tried to sum her up. Cora recognised that he might not have magic, he might not have the darkness that Rumple did, but he did have a strong sense of self preservation and didn't trust easily.
"I'm Cora." She introduced herself and the handshake was brief.
Knowing he was new in town and that his Father was a deal making Dark One, Neal didn't know what to make of this woman. His father's warning rang in his ears, but he was a man now and had seen many changes and often lived through bad situations. He had enough experience in his life and was confident in his ability to read people and react before things became out of hand.
He didn't know much about any of the residents of this town except that it was a twisted version of the Enchanted Forest. He didn't know who they had been or what their stories were as he had left that place so long ago. But his gut was telling him something was off with this woman.
All he knew about Storybrooke was that it was full of bizarre and weird fairy-tale characters and that could be the reason this woman disturbed him. There was the possibility this woman was genuine, but she also could have had a bad deal with his father and might be here to get some revenge. She could just be the local weirdo who spent her day talking to strangers, he had seen loads of them in New York, they were mostly harmless and sat in the park talking to pigeons. But he was still going to tread carefully with her.
The woman didn't look crazy, her dress was smart and her hair was pinned back in a tidy design. But she seemed cold and detached and it set something off inside him. Maybe she reminded him of The Dark One, there was a hint of power and control that he picked up on and reminded him of the magical side of his father.
He didn't really want to invite her to join him, he didn't want to call the waitress over to bring another cup of coffee for her to sip at. He wondered if he was being rude, was the expected norm in this town that the men were chivalrous and made the good and moral choices? Well he wasn't from this town, and he wanted to be left alone to eat. He settled with agreeing to meet her later once he could make enquiries about her and discover if she had some ulterior motive.
"It was nice to meet you," he began, "but I'd like to eat my breakfast now, so maybe I could join you later for a coffee?"
"Of course." Cora smiled at him and he felt unsettled again. She stood and said, "What time later?"
Cora was looking around as she waited for Neal to confirm a time, planning how this could work. Luck was with her as she was given the perfect solution, it was simple and required very little magic.
Neal answered her, "Half eleven, here?" as another customer came through the front door. Cora made sure there was a sharp gust of wind that followed them, blowing the napkin from Neal's lap. He bent down to retrieve it and with reflexes made lightning quick with magic Cora had added the mixture into his coffee cup.
When he sat back up Cora nodded her approval and said, "Half eleven would be lovely."
She didn't loiter and instead spun on her heel and walked out the door with back straight and her head high. Very soon things would fall into place.
Cora didn't wait for half eleven, she knew Neal would be pliable after drinking the potion, so she lurked outside the garish restaurant, silently stalking her prey.
She put her hand in her pocket and ran her finger over the map she had taken from Regina's vault, the one with the location of the dagger. It was a chance, but she thought it unlikely Rumple had moved it. He had only been back a few days, she had been watching and he was trying to spend time with his son. A son she was now going to use to help her.
She called out and greeted him as he left the Diner and he moved to her side willingly. Good she thought, the potion is working. She guided him to the bench and they sat down together. To any passer-by they would look like two old friends catching up and discussing, but she was testing the strength of the potion. By asking steadily more personal and invasive questions Cora ascertained that Regina had done well and Neal would be under her control for several hours.
Thinking Regina had done well sparked something inside of her. It wasn't pride, and if it was it was immediately eclipsed by anger. How dare her daughter behave that way, cavorting with another woman and blatantly lying to her? Why her daughter could never see the easiest and best path amazed her. It was almost like Regina wanted to fail, she always made the poorest of choices.
And the Swan girl, good lord what Regina saw in her was a mystery. Cora recognised some women were attractive, money, good make up and expensive perfume coupled with fine clothes could make even ordinary girls seem striking. But Emma Swan was none of those things, she was a glorified street urchin who didn't invest in her appearance, her clothes were cheap, her hair often messy and her posture was horrendous. Her daughter could and should do better.
Just thinking of them together made the darkness in her swirl more violently, but she couldn't focus on her daughter right now. She needed to use the man sat before her and to be solely focused on him.
She pulled the folded map from her pocket, along with the book reference, another gift she had removed from her daughter's possession. As she laid the map out before Neal she coaxed him,
"I know you travelled to many far off lands when you were divided from your father, and I wondered if you had learned the secret of this map?"
Neal looked at it and nodded, it was a basic map with symbols for landmarks and from his time in Neverland he could read most maps. Captain Hook had taken him under his wing and educated him. It wasn't a typical, academic education, but the life experience had been invaluable.
"Yes I can read the map, but I doubt it will help you." He smiled a little drunkenly and Cora could see the potion was digging in deeply, it had been made a little too strong. If Rumple came along now he would know something was wrong with his son. Damn Regina, she was forever the thorn in her side, never able to do anything right.
She realised she had made a mistake and should have lead him somewhere quiet to avoid unwanted attention and any interruptions. She should have foreseen there might be a problem with the potion, but rather than blame herself she continued to place the blame for this with Regina.
Regina had mixed the potion badly, Regina should be here helping or acting as look out but was instead gallivanting with the useless blonde woman. Yes, this was Regina's fault and if she succeeded she would remind her daughter of the price of failure.
But at for the present she had to work with what she had. Knowing he was completely defenceless and would do whatever was asked of him she pressed her advantage, not knowing how long she would have.
"Why won't it help me?" She questioned.
"Because it is a fake." He beamed at her like a small child might and Cora knew she would need to keep him away from everyone, he looked like he should be in a lunatic asylum. She hoped his body would start to counter the effects soon. He was a well-built man and had eaten recently, his body should begin to repel the magic shortly and he should stop grinning like crazy person.
"How can you tell?"
"Because my father likes games, he likes to taunt people and dangle false hope before them. This is just one of his examples. You could start digging here" and he indicated the mark for the dagger, "but nothing would be there."
She had to reign in her temper, this was beyond frustrating, the information dribbling out so slowly. But she was getting the truth and put her façade in place so it would continue. She smiled at the younger man and placed her hand on his arm.
"Thank you for helping me with that, can you tell me where I might find the dagger then?" Her tone was sweet, gentle, hiding all the anger and destruction that resided in her soul waiting for a chance to tear into something. More and more that something was looking like her daughter.
"Where did you find the map?" He asked her.
"In the library, it was in an empty slot where a book should have been, a reference we found guided us there."
"That's the real clue." Neal told her, and Cora saw his eyes clear a little and the smile falter. The potion was still in control of his body, but it had a weaker hold and she was thankful. She needed him to be able to interact normally with people so no-one suspected anything was wrong with him.
"Here is the reference for the book." Cora looked at Regina's script where she had copied the number before handing over the sheet of paper. The wrath and resentment bubbled again but as Neal shook his head she swung her attention back on him.
"That is a local library reference number, do you have the ISBN so I can Google it?"
Cora looked at him like he was speaking another language, which to her and her old world ideas, he was. She had no idea what ISBN or Googling something meant but he must have seen a flash of confusion on her face because he quickly told her,
"Don't worry, I can find that out for you. My father lives with the librarian, I can pop in and create a ruse about spending time with her to get to know her. When she isn't looking I will see what book it is from the library files. After that I will meet with you to tell you."
Cora was pleased, this man was obviously used to planning and finding out information in unorthodox ways. He was a little like his father after all, devious and shifty, flirting with the darkness rather than being honest. And he had knowledge of this world that now she had cut Regina loose she needed. It was almost the perfect plan, except she didn't know how long the potion would work for so she implanted the suggestion now.
"Don't seek me out after finding the title of the book, just write it down, and place the paper on the outside window ledge. Then go about your day as you had planned, as if it was a normal day. Forget this conversation and what I have asked of you. Can you do that for me?"
"Yeah, I can do that. I just need to get Belle a coffee as a conversation starter, then I'll go to the library and start on this for you."
Cora worried he still wouldn't bear close scrutiny, but she had to let him collect the coffee on his own and hope no-one noticed he was a little distant. She waited for him outside and decided to walk with him to the library.
She was pleased that standing up and walking arm in arm seemed to sober Neal. Whether it was the fresh air or his metabolism digesting some of the more harmful elements or just time for the effects to lessen a little she didn't care. He was soon able to walk in a straight line unaided and didn't answer her questions with the same gusto he had demonstrated earlier. His natural restraint was beginning to show itself and she felt comfortable that she could move away from him and let him walk freely.
As they made to part company she tapped the window ledge with a stone she had picked up, reminding him to put the paper there and secure it from blowing away. She walked away from Rumple's son hoping today had been fruitful. She would know in a few hours' time so she decided to be constructive with her time and visit someone else who might be useful to her before returning to the library.
Rumple listened to Snow and Charming explain what Cora wanted and that his son was going to be used against him. He was angry, letting it pinch his face and he snapped at the couple delivering the news. Cora should know better than to cross him like that.
The arrogance she was displaying if she thought she could steal his dagger, that was something he was used to with her. Even if she planned to imprison or kill him that was one thing, but to use his son to do her bidding was completely another. He was furious about it. He shooed the Princess and Shepherd out the door of his shop and flicked the sign to closed.
He needed to find Bae, if he was under the influence of a potion like the Charmings had said he would just mix something to counter it. He expected better from Cora, but then she was far from home and without strong magic or the help of her daughter if the account Snow had told him was to be believed. Her trump card had been getting rid of him with the magic globe and that hadn't worked, so she was running out of ideas.
He picked up his cell and dialled Neal's number, hearing it ring and ring.
He told himself he didn't feel fear, he instilled it in others. But he was a little unsettled and thought about the dagger and whether it was hidden well enough. Of course it is he berated himself. Rushing to it and moving it now he knew Cora was watching was more dangerous. He needed to hold his nerve and suggest she had outstayed her welcome in Storybrooke, he'd even help her realm jump again to be rid of her as long as she hadn't hurt Baelfire.
As he was moving into his backroom he heard the phone ring and looking at the caller display he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hi," his son greeted him. "Sorry I missed your call but I'm at the library with Belle, I felt it vibrate too late and it was on silent."
Rumple was not completely at ease in this world, it had technology rather than magic and he liked the old ways. He struggled with the technology which he didn't understand. Baelfire had input his number into his phone and saved it in the front menu so he could easily ring it. Terms like "the phone being on silent" and "vibrating" were alien to him. It rang and he answered it and that was the extent of his knowledge on cell phones.
Right now none of the technical babble mattered, Baelfire had returned his call and was safe. He listened as his son told him,
"I brought her a coffee after breakfast to say thanks for letting me stay and getting under her feet. And I thought I ought to get to know her a little better and that's easier without you hovering around, pretending not to listen." He chuckled and Rumple relaxed.
"How was breakfast?" He asked, picking for information.
"Good thanks, Granny makes the best hash. And Ruby wore a short shirt, making her legs look lovely. It was a nice view, that girl is a fox."
"Actually she is a wolf." His father told him in a serious tone.
"You're joking?" His son laughed.
The banter felt natural and the older man smiled. "Apart from eyeing up Ruby it was uneventful?"
He was just double checking. He doubted Cora would be so blatant in a public place, she didn't like witnesses, they could be troublesome.
"It was just breakfast, nothing else happened." The younger man rolled his eyes at the protective way his father was.
Rumple felt reassured but just needed to make one hundred percent sure everything was still fine so he asked if he could have a quick word with Belle.
"Rumple," she greeted him warmly, "How is your day going?"
"Well My Love. I hear Baelfire has brought you a gift."
"Yes, but he shouldn't have. His company is enough."
"He is a gentleman." The older man said with pride, glad that his son seemed to be embracing Belle's presence in his life.
"No really, he shouldn't have. It's Granny's coffee and tastes like dirt!" Belle laughed into the phone and he found himself smiling too. He heard Neal laughing in the background too and it set his mind completely at ease.
"Have a good day Belle, Bae and I were planning on going to The Rabbit Hole this evening, I hope that is alright? Would you like an early meal together at the Diner before that? Can you pass me back to him so I can finalise the arrangements?"
As his son came back on the line he felt grateful after all his searching he had been given the second chance he had always wanted. Things were going to be alright, Cora could plan and plot but he would protect his son.
He warmly told his son, "After you have finished swapping stories about me with Belle would you come to my shop? I have something important to tell you."
He was going to warn his son and stress that he couldn't trust anyone, Cora might be able to disguise herself but the potion had to be ingested so as long as he didn't eat or drink anything given to him by a stranger everything would be fine.
"Sure Papa." The younger man agreed and his old heart skipped at the easy way it had slipped out of his son's mouth.
Cora felt the corners of her mouth lift as she saw the piece of paper left for her flapping in the gentle breeze. She picked it up as she walked past and put it into her pocket, she would read it once she was away from the library. She didn't know if Rumple or Regina might be looking for her, or even spying on her like she spied on them.
She had decided on stealth, her instincts were to never trust anyone, and they had served her well for years. She found a deserted side street and ducked into a disused doorway. Hidden in shadow she opened the paper and saw the book title.
"Time is an illusion." She read. Underneath was scrawled the authors name and a brief summary of the contents of the book. She glanced at the words about someone called Albert Einstein and how his quote had motivated the author. She decided that was irrelevant, the title was what mattered.
Her smile broadened, this gave her a good idea where to start looking. She decided to set out immediately, she had several things she was pulling together, but this was the most important.
She felt she might finally be on the cusp of getting The Dark One's dagger and she couldn't believe Rumple had become so soft. Having lived in this world for so long he must have lost focus on his pursuit of power and magic. Or maybe it was the love of a woman and having his son back in his life that had obviously made him weak, something she never would have thought possible.
The Imp she knew was twisted and cared little for other people, only interested in what benefit they could be to him. She saw he was fading, becoming a shell of his former self, but she could only celebrate her good fortune and make sure she maximised the benefit from it.
As Cora entered the building that housed the clock face she felt the dark magic pull at her insides. She was close and could almost taste the bitterness in the air that the darkness manifested as. It only grew stronger as she climbed the stairs in the tower. She knew the item was cloaked, which would have stopped any normal person or one unskilled with magic, but she knew Rumple of old and most of his spells had been passed to her. She concentrated hard and waved her hand.
Nothing happened and she cursed. She thought again and pulled at more magic, using a different enchantment. She was rewarded with a heavy thud as something fell to the floor by her feet and with a genuine smile, one that hadn't graced her face since she pulled out her heart as a teenager, she bent to pick up the source of Rumple's power. As her hand grasped the handle she felt control and power flow through her and she caressed the metal lovingly.
"Finally." She whispered to herself.